Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 67
प्रणवविभागः—वेदस्वरूपत्वं लिङ्गे च प्रतिष्ठा
The Division of Oṃ, Its Vedic Forms, and Its Placement in the Liṅga
मोहितो ऽहंकृतश्चापि पुनरेवास्मि शासितः । विज्ञापितैः किं बहुभिर्भीतोस्मि भृशमीश्वर
mohito 'haṃkṛtaścāpi punarevāsmi śāsitaḥ | vijñāpitaiḥ kiṃ bahubhirbhītosmi bhṛśamīśvara
Séduit par l’illusion et poussé par l’ego, je suis de nouveau réprimandé. À quoi bon tant d’explications ? Ô Seigneur, je suis saisi d’une crainte extrême.
A repentant devotee/supplicant addressing Lord Shiva (Īśvara) within Suta Goswami’s Vāyavīya narration
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Īśāna
Significance: Models śaraṇāgati: fear and ego-collapse become the threshold for grace; pilgrims are taught to abandon ahaṃkāra and seek Śiva’s protection.
Role: liberating
FAQs
It highlights the Shaiva Siddhanta insight that bondage (pāśa) is strengthened by delusion (moha) and ego (ahaṃkāra); liberation begins when the soul admits its fear and helplessness and turns to Pati (Śiva) for grace and right discipline.
Addressing Śiva as Īśvara reflects surrender to the compassionate Saguna Lord who corrects and protects the devotee; Linga-worship embodies this refuge—approaching Śiva not through argument, but through humility, confession, and devotion.
A practical takeaway is śaraṇāgati with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), coupled with self-examination to reduce ego; if following Purāṇic practice, support it with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as reminders of Śiva’s discipline and protection.